Aeroplane



July 7, 1931. A. A. ROOT 1,813,201

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July 7, 1931. A.,A. ROOT AEROPLANE Filed oct. 22, 1927 2 sheets-sheet g v INVENTOR. MW f ff ATTORNEY.

minted July 7.1931

PATENT DFFICE ARTHUR A. ROOT, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN AEROPLANE Application led October 22, 1927. Serial No. 227,896.

The present invention relates to flying machines and particularly to machines of the aeroplane type.

Among the objects of the invention is to increase the stability and safety of such devices.

Another object is to distribute the lift of such machines so that it is not necessary, as in the conventional type, to concentrate the load at or near the center of lift? of the supporting surfaces.

Other objects include the construction and operationl of various parts of the machine making for simplicity and economy. i

Still other objects will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon refe-rence to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a lan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a ront elevation of the same;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a hinge for a control surface;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through part of the rear end of a main plane'showing the hinging of the control planes; y

Fig. 7 is a partial longitudinalhorizontal section through the entering edge plane or member;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section of the same on line 8-8 of Fig. 7

Fig. 9 shows a modified form of the structure shown in Fig. 4; v

Fig. 10 isa partially sectional elevation of a novel level indicator.

As indicated the machine consists of a body or cabin 20, serving to 'contain the useful load and provided with observation windows 21. The extreme forward end 22 of cabin 2O is preferably used for the lengine and a tractor propeller 23 is shown as the propelling means for the machine.

The machine will be provided with forward wheels 24 and a rearward wheel 25 with or without a tail skid 26, the latter preferably being mounted so as to be capable of being lifted up out of operation if desired.

Also on the body is a keel member 30 extending the full length thereof and provided at several points intermediate its end-s with rectangular openings 31 having hinged therein small planes 32, the hinges being vertically located along the forward side of the opening and the planes 32 being of such size as to substantially fill the opening but permit their being swung to either side of the keel 30.

Above the body 20 are the supporting surp faces and main control pla-nes with the excep tion of a vertical rudder 35 which is hinged on a vertical axis at the rear end of the body. T'he supporting surfaces consist of a laterally extended front plane designated as a Whole by the letter A and longitudinally extending narrower planes v40, the latter, being mounted on the top of the body 20 and e'xtending vfrom the rear edge of plane A to rear end of the body 20. These planes 40 are flat and so shape-d that the pair of them is rectangular as shown in Fig. 2.

On each side of the body 20, the planes 40 are provided with a number of passages 41 extending therethrough sloping from .the

front toward the rear and each passage isv provided with a valve or cover 42 hinged at the rear of the top entrance and so mounted as to present a smooth surfacewhen closed. These passages are shown in Figs. 4 and'9, the latter showing a modified form of valve 42a connected to a lower valve 42?) bymeans of a movable wall member 420 adapted to fur nish one side of the passage with a wall against air entering the plane body.

The plane A consists. of several distinct parts one of which is the entering edge portion 45 which consists of a substantially semicircular member extending the full lateral length of the plane A. yThis member 45 tapers somewhat toward its ends as shown in Fig. 2 and is placed with its lat side underneath, being fixed to the body 20 by means of suitable struts and braces 46. Member 45 is preferably built up on a system of three tubular frame members 47 extending from end to end of the member 45 and the central portionis occupied by the fuel tank 48 the surface of which forms the surface of this portion of the wing member. From each end of the tank 48 to the extremity of member 45 the surface may be of the conventional fabric or thin metal sheet indicated at 49 and supported internally by the bracing 50. Fig. 8 shows the upper and lower rear tubular frame members 47 as round in section with the lower forward member 47 of semicircular or partly round section.

The rear lower member 47 is of round section so as to form the pintle for hing'ing to the rear of member 45, flat planes 55 which extend from each end of member 45 toward the center to a point where they will just miss the body when moved downward on their hinges. Their hinge line is the lower rear frame member 47 of part 45 and is indicated in Fig. 1 atl 56. These planes 55 extend rearwardly to the front edge of planes 40 and are adapted to align therewith when in their upper position. Further, each plane 55 has hinged to its rear edge an aileron 60.

Additional control members are provided at the rear of planes in the three small horizontal planes 62 and 63,hinged thereto,

.the planes 62' being capable of being used as ailerons and the plane 63 as an elevator.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a preferred method of hinging certain of the control members, for example planes 62 and 63. In t-he structure illustrated in these figures, the plane 40 is indicated as being made by securing its surface 40a to ribs 407) and its surface 40G to ribs 40d and providing these ribs at their ends with openings or eyes through which is passed a shaft- 70. The planes 60, 62 and 63 are then provided with similar eyes 71 which are threaded on the same shaft 70 so that the latter not only ties the upper and lower surfaces of the supporting plane together but also furnishes one element of the hinge for the hinged plane.

It is of course understood that the various movable elements will be operable by suitable control means through levers and the like placed in the body at a location within reach of the pilot.

These controls will be so arranged that the pilot may swing the several hinged members in combinations as he sees fit.

The planes preferably swing down t0- gether to increase lift for rising and the ailerons will generally be used conventionally. The small rear hinged planes 62 may be used as additional ailerons acting in parallel with ailerons 60 or they may be operated as additional elevators withthe elevator 63. 1

The valves 32 in the keel 30 may be swung to either side of the keel 30 for aiding lateral stability and these will preferably be arranged to be fixed in adjusted position.

The valves 42 in the planes 40 are for the purpose of aiding the lift of the planes 40. By 'opening these valves, the air above the 65 plane is transferred to the air stream below resulting in a rarefying above and densifying below with a corresponding increased lift.

As an aid in operation of the plane by indicating to the pilot the position of the plane, the device shown in Fig. 10 has been devised. This consists of anelongated globe 100 of glass or other suitable transparent material about half full of mercury 101 marked with peripheral lines 102 indicating degrees off the perpendicular. The zero line 103 will of course be at the level of the liquid when the plane is level. This device may be mounted in any suitable manner upon the instrument board and will indicate to the pilot whether or not he is fiying level or not.

Now having described the invention and the preferred form of embodiment thereof it is to be limited, not to the specific details herein set forth but only by the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim 1. In an aeroplane a body or fuselage, a forwardly located laterally extended cambered aerofo-il or plane above said body, and a longitudinally arranged flat plane also above said body and in approximate alignment with the forward plane, said forward plane being of greater lateral dimensions than said longitudinal plane and the latter being of greater width than said body and having spaced intermediate its length a plurality of controlled transverse air passages, and control planes hinged to the free rearward edges of said planes.

2. In an aeroplane a longitudinally arranged plane, a fuselage or body suspended therefrom, a transverse forward plane, control elements hinged to said planes, a plurality of air passages in said longitudinal Vplane extending therethrough and sloping downwardly and rearwardly, said passages being spaced longitudinally of said plane, and valve members controlling said passages.

3. In an aeroplane a longitudinally arranged plane, a fuselage or body suspended therefrom, a transverse forward plane, control elements hinged tosaid planes, a plurality of air passages in said longitudinal plane extending therethrough and sloping downwardly and rearwardly, said passages being spaced longitudinally of said plane, and valve members controlling said passages, said valve members being hinged along the rear side of the upper most openings of said passages.

4. In an aeroplane, a forwardly located transversely extending aerofoil and a longitudinally extending flat plane or supporting surface trailing and in approximate alignment with said forward aerofoil, the longitudinally extending plane having a plurality of transverse air passages spaced from each other intermediate its length and sloping rearwardly from the upper to the lower side of said plane, each of said passages havdinally extending plane having a plurality of transverse air passages spaced from each other intermediate its length and sloping 'rearwardly from thel upper to the lower side of said plane, each of said passa es being provided with a valve hinged to t e upper and rearward side of the said passage and -adapted when closed to form a continuation of the upper surface of said plane, and when opened upward, to extend above the upper surface and control entrance to said passages.

6. In an aeroplane a forwardly located transversely extending aerofoil and a longitudinally extending flat plane or supporting surface trailing and in approximate alignment with said forward aerofoil, said longi.V

tudinal lane having spaced intermediate of its length a plurality of.transverse vanes 0I' sections hinged at their rear edges-and each being adapted when opened upward toextend above upper surface and create air passages sloping rearwardly and downwardly therethrough and when closed to close said airfpassagesand form a continuation of both upper and lower surfaces.

7. In an aeroplane, a longitudinally arranged plane, a fuselage or body suspended therefrom, a transverse forward plane, control elements hinged to said planes and said longitudinal plane having spaced intermediate of its length a lurality of vanes or sections hinged at t eir -rear edges and adapted when openedto create air paages extending therethrou h, sloping rearwardly and downwardly, an when closed, to close air passages and form a continuation of both upper and lower surfaces.

8. In an aeroplane,a supporting plane having spaced intermediate of its length a. plu- I rality of transverse vanes or sections hinged at their rear edges and each being adapted, when opened, upward to extend above the upper surface and create air passages sloping rearwardly and downwardly therethrough and when closed to close said air passages and form a continuation of both upper and lower surfaces.

9. ln an aeroplane, a fiat supporting plane having spaced intermediate its length a pluralit of transverseair assages sloping| rearwar ly and downward y therethrough, each having a valve hinged at lits rear edge to the rear upper edge of an air passage and adapted when opened upward, to extend above said upper surface and control the entrance to the air passage and, when closed, to form a oontinuation of the upper surface of said plane.

ARTHUR A. ROOT. 

